International Olympic Committee : News

Vancouver 2010 legacy lives on

6/27/2012 9:40:00 AM

More than two years after it hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver is still benefitting from being an Olympic city thanks to the legacy plans that were put in place by the Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee (VANOC), local stakeholders, and with the support of the IOC.

From new sporting venues and infrastructure improvements to environmental and economic benefits, the city used the Winter Games as a catalyst to create a number of lasting legacies.

Perhaps the most evident is the sporting legacy that the Games provided. As well as the construction of new facilities – such as the Richmond Olympic Oval – Vancouver 2010 also helped get more young people involved in sport, thanks, in part, to the successful performance of the Canadian Olympic team.

“After the Games, kids were on their way to skating rinks the next day and signing up for curling and skiing and ski jumping, and this is what the Olympics can do,” said John Furlong, VANOC CEO, in an interview in February 2011. “Ultimately you hope that, as a result of the Games, every child will get a chance to experience sports.”

Numerous recreational and high performance sports programmes

Thanks to the Games, numerous recreational and high performance sports programmes were created for young people through the not-for-profit organisation 2010 Legacies Now, which has worked with more than 2,000 organisations in the host region to ensure this legacy lives on. An Aboriginal Youth Sports Legacy Fund was also created, supporting high school students, elite athletes and community groups.

The Richmond Olympic Oval skating track, meanwhile, has since been transformed into a community facility that includes an indoor track, two ice rinks, badminton courts, volleyball courts and a 2,300-square-foot fitness centre.

Benefits for the local community

Other venues have also been adapted to further benefit the local community following the Games. These include the Vancouver Olympic Centre – used for curling during the Games – which is part of a complex that includes a community centre, an ice rink, a curling club, a pre-school, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

The Games have also delivered benefits to Vancouver from an economic viewpoint. According to the Conference Board of Canada, approximately CAD 600 million was injected into the Vancouver economy as a result of the Games, lifting economic growth by 0.8 per cent.

2,500 full-time jobs as a result

A coalition of Metro Vancouver municipal governments also announced in February 2011 that the Vancouver Games had so far helped to spur more than CAD 300 million in economic development benefits, which had resulted in 2,500 full-time jobs.

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)’s media and public relations activities around the Games also generated about CAD 1 billion in ‘Advertising Value Equivalency’ in 2010, while global audiences were reached 12 billion times in 2010 by Olympic coverage with Canadian tourism messages.

Indeed, FutureBrand ranked Canada as the number one country brand in 2010, crediting the positive effects of hosting the Games, and noting CTC’s Olympic Games tourism strategy and its strong tourism brand as a key influence.

A better transport infrastructure

Vancouver’s transport infrastructure has also been improved as a result of the Games. TransLink, Vancouver’s transit agency, launched an ambitious expansion plan before the Games that included 48 new SkyTrain cars, a new SeaBus and 180 diesel-electric hybrid buses. The new Canada Line, built in time for the Games, now speeds travellers between Vancouver’s airport and downtown areas, while improvements to the Sea-to-Sky highway have made travel from Vancouver to Whistler safer and faster.

While hosting the Games can act as a catalyst for cities to deliver lasting benefits such as these, host cities must have a strong vision and clear objectives in place in order to take full advantage of the opportunities that the Games can provide.

With that in mind, the IOC works closely with Games organisers to look at what they believe planning for and hosting the Games can do for their citizens, cities, and countries.

A long-term strategy and vision from the beginning of the bid process

As every host city is different and has different priorities, the IOC encourages each one to define its own objectives, long-term strategy and vision from the beginning of the bid process and to look at how the Games can be a catalyst for development. It does so by asking the cities in both the applicant city and candidate city questionnaires to formulate what they want the Games to create as a legacy – this subsequently provides the Games organisers with clear objectives to aim for during the seven years of Olympic preparation and beyond.

The legacy benefits enjoyed by Vancouver – from investments in tangible infrastructure and venues to the intangible benefits of great memories and inspiring stories – were highlighted by a VANOC report, released in 2010.

"A lasting and positive impact"

"Our sense is that people who experienced the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games instinctively know they will have a lasting and positive impact," said Furlong. "This report, however, documents the many hard and soft legacies of the Games, and it's quite stunning to see them all gathered in one place. It's a great testament to all of the work put into the Games and a source of pride for the many people and organisations who contributed to their success. We hope it will also serve the Sochi 2014 Winter Games organisers – and all future Games organisers – as a valuable reference that demonstrates the many kinds of legacies that can come from staging the Games."

Vancouver 2010: The Games Are Over But The Legacy Lives On

2/28/2011 3:37:00 PM

A year ago today, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games came to a close and the Olympic flame was extinguished at BC Place stadium. Canada had just won hockey gold, sending the nation into raptures, and the Closing Ceremony had been an opportunity for Canada to poke a little fun at itself and celebrate 16 days of fantastic sporting competition. Yet, when the flame went out, the catalytic effect of the Olympic Games on Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada, did not come to an end. The legacy of these Games will live on for many, many years to come.

Athletic Achievement

At their core, the Vancouver Games were a stage for remarkable athletic achievement and cultural celebrations. The world was welcomed by the magnificent “blue jacket” volunteers, the warm wave of red mittens, and the glowing hearts of deep Canadian pride. Global television ratings were unparalleled, a record number of National Olympic Committees participated in the Games, and Canadian athletes won the most gold medals ever at an Olympic Winter Games. But for Canadians, the Olympic Games were much more than just about “owning the podium”. Vancouver 2010 left a great legacy for the city, region, country and Olympic Movement. Legacy planning is an integral part of the preparations for all Olympic Games, and Vancouver set a new benchmark in many areas.

Pre-Games Legacies

The sport venues in Vancouver and the nearby mountain resort of Whistler were finished well in advance of the Games. Most were completed two full winter seasons before February 2010, providing unprecedented time for athletes to train and compete in the lead-up to the Games. Indeed, some, such as Whistler Olympic Park and the Olympic Oval, were available so early that legacies were realizsed before the Games even began, with public and amateur athletes able to use the venues that would soon welcome the world’s finest sportsmen and women. There is no doubt that these venues will leave a substantial legacy for both amateur and elite sport in Canada. But just as important, each venue was designed responsibly and with a view to the future. Each one met the highest environmental standards and featured numerous sustainability highlights such as energy-saving features that captured and reused waste heat and rainwater. One year on, the venues continue to be well used and will remain valuable parts of the community long into the future.

More Than Just Green Games

The 2010 Winter Games were more than just green Games. Vancouver was the first host city to create a not-for-profit organisation specifically designed to develop community legacies — in sport, the arts, literacy, environment, accessibility, and volunteerism — before, during and after the 2010 Games. The work of the Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee set a new bar for future international events in the field of sustainability. Environmentally, the 2010 Games showed us how future events can reduce their carbon footprints and how partnerships can result in more responsible Games. They also showed us how the Olympic Games can be a catalyst for socially and economically disadvantaged groups that might not have otherwise had the opportunity to benefit.

Aboriginal Participation

The 2010 Olympic Games also created greater awareness of Aboriginal people and Canada’s cultural diversity. An Aboriginal Participation department was integrated within the Organising Committee ensuring significant economic, cultural and sporting opportunities and legacies for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. The partnership with the First Nations on whose traditional territories the Games were held — known collectively as the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) — was a Games’ first. The unprecedented participation by the Aboriginal people of Canada made the 2010 Games stronger and was another example of Vancouver’s commitment to inclusion.

National Pride

Canadians will not soon forget the snowballing sense of national pride that united them from coast to coast, while international visitors will likewise long remember the welcoming feeling of camaraderie that greeted them at the Games. The result was an unforgettable atmosphere that symbolised the true spirit of the Olympic Games. A year ago Vancouver hosted excellent and very friendly Games, providing future organizsers with an ideal example of what’s possible when a vision is achieved and when legacy is a priority. By heeding the lessons of their predecessors, future hosts – London (Great Britain), Sochi (Russia), and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) – can set their own benchmarks and deliver unforgettable events that will produce lasting legacies that will benefit their communities for many years to come.

VANCOUVER 2010

Vancouver and Whistler hosted the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010. The seven winter Olympic sports that were on show in Vancouver were luge, skiing, skating, ice hockey, biathlon, bobsleigh and curling.

VANOC Releases Final Sustainability Report

12/20/2010 4:10:00 PM

On the same day that the Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee (VANOC) announced that it had achieved a balanced budget, it also released its final sustainability report, which shows that the 2010 Winter Games were more than just “green”. Indeed, VANOC decided to look at areas beyond the environment pillar in order to deliver many other legacies from its Games, both locally and globally. VANOC’s work covered not just the environment but also social and economic opportunities that have produced lasting benefits for the host region.

Raised The Bar

IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games Gilbert Felli commented on VANOC’s work by saying, “For nearly two decades, the IOC has been encouraging and working with the Olympic Movement to improve the sustainability of sport. With each edition of the Games, we take new strides forward, and VANOC has undoubtedly raised the bar once again. Vancouver 2010 showed that the Games and sport can be truly sustainable and leave great legacies to the host community. We are confident that VANOC’s work will leave a solid foundation from which future Organising Committees can build upon. Congratulations to the whole VANOC team for a job well done.”

Legacy for the Future

As part of its legacy for future organising committees, VANOC created a new sustainability governance model for large sports event organisations, reporting frameworks and a sustainable sports event tool kit for mega sports events. It also demonstrated how a venue programme can be designed for legacy use and built to minimise environmental impact; how partnerships with aboriginal people can make a Games stronger; how socially and economically disadvantaged groups can participate in and benefit from the Games; and how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced.

Corporate Sustainability Objectives

The sustainability report outlines legacies that relate to each of VANOC’s six corporate sustainability objectives. For example, under accountability, VANOC developed a sustainable sports event toolkit for mega sports events in partnership with the IOC and the International Academy for Sport Science and Technology; in the area of the environment, VANOC received the Excellence for Green Building award from the Globe Foundation and the World Green Building Council; socially, inner-city businesses benefited from $5.7 million in Games-related procurement opportunities; there was unprecedented aboriginal participation in the Vancouver Games, thanks to agreements signed between the Four Host First Nations and VANOC; economically, 528 Buysmart contracts were issued for a total value of $277 million, ensuring that sustainability attributes were considered in VANOC’s procurement and licensing activities; and finally, in the area of sport for sustainable living, VANOC leveraged the interest in sport to raise awareness and inspire action on local and global sustainability solutions for businesses, communities and individuals.

VANCOUVER 2010

Read the full report

Three Olympian brothers at The Olympic Museum for a donation

8/23/2010 3:02:00 PM

They already made names for themselves at the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver last February. Three brothers from one family present at the Olympic Games is something quite exceptional, and it is for this reason that the people responsible for the Museum collections approached them when they were asking for donations in Vancouver.

On Thursday 20 August at The Olympic Museum, the three Ligocki brothers, Luckasz, Michal and Mateusz, accompanied by their parents, donated to The Olympic Museum the full set of equipment they wore in Vancouver, either as athletes or as an official: snowboard, bindings, boots, helmet, gloves, mask, bodysuits, delegation clothing, etc. The donations also included accreditation cards, bibs and some photographs.

The donation was made in the presence of Francis Gabet and Frédérique Jamolli, Director and Curator of The Olympic Museum respectively. All three athletes received a donor’s diploma signed by the IOC President, acknowledging their donation.

In the book signed successively by the three brothers, Michal wrote: “I’m feeling so special, to give my Olympic equipment to this Museum. From now on I’ll feel that the memory of me and my family will live 4 ever!”

A bit of background…

Mateusz Ligocki (born 1982) participated in the Turin Games in 2006 in snowboard and snowboard cross. He was the only athlete to compete in the two disciplines. In Vancouver, he participated in the snowboard cross events.

Michal Ligocki (born 1985) also participated in the Turin and Vancouver Games, but in half-pipe.

The two brothers really want to participate in a third edition of the Games and are seriously preparing themselves for the 2014 Games in Sochi.

As for the oldest Lukasz brother (born 1980), he is FIS snowboard A license judge and technical delegate for snowboard. He was the Deputy Chef de Mission for the Polish team in Whistler.

Vancouver passes know-how to Sochi

6/10/2010 11:30:00 AM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Vancouver 2010 debrief came to a successful conclusion today in the Russian city of Sochi – the future host of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The debrief, which is in its sixth edition, brought together a large number of Olympic stakeholders from 7 to 10 June in order to share their experiences and the lessons learnt from the Vancouver Games.

The event was opened by IOC President Jacques Rogge, with the Deputy Prime Minsters of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Kozak and Alexandr Zhukov; Coordination Commission Chairmen René Fasel and Jean-Claude Killy; Organising Committee executives John Furlong and Dmitry Chernyshenko; and athletes Alexander Popov and Ivan Skobrev also addressing the assembled audience. In addition, a number of Russian Government Deputy Ministers participated in the debrief, showing the importance that the host nation is placing in the transfer of knowledge process put in place by the IOC.

“This is the sixth debrief we have held, and you can really see the positive evolution of the programme over the years,” Felli said. “I was particularly impressed with the openness of the Vancouver organisers and their willingness to share everything with their successors. Sochi has already been able to glean a lot of information from our transfer of knowledge programmes, but the debrief will no doubt have helped to cement the lessons that they learnt while observing the Vancouver Games, and will inspire them to strive for and achieve the very best in four years’ time.”

Representatives of Sochi 2014, London 2012, Rio 2016 and the three applicant cities for 2018 (Munich, Annecy and PyeongChang), took part in the four days of workshops and seminars in the Black Sea resort, which provided a forum for all parties to hold constructive discussions and exchange information that will help them prepare for future Olympic Games.

Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko said that the event had been incredibly useful for his team.

"Sochi 2014 will be an incredibly creative and innovative Games with a uniquely Russian flavour, while being firmly grounded in Olympic Movement best practice. Working with VANOC has allowed us to enhance our plans to ensure Russia's first Winter Games is a success," said Chernyshenko.

The 32 debrief sessions revolved around five general themes — Inspire & Engage, Team-Up & Test, Embrace & Achieve, Experience & Learn and Innovate & Promote — and permitted frank, open, and detailed discussions on all the different services offered to Olympic stakeholders, including athletes, spectators, partners and the media.

The success of the debrief was also thanks to the openness and outstanding cooperation of the members of the Vancouver 2010 team, who attended the debrief led by their CEO, John Furlong. Furlong spoke about how important it was for his team to share their experiences and leave yet another legacy to the Olympic Movement.

“In our long-standing goal of leaving lasting legacies from our Games, this debrief has been a critical element,” said Furlong. “How well we remember that, four short years before our Games, every piece of experienced advice was invaluable. We hope our presentations and discussions this week have been helpful, and we have every confidence that the Sochi 2014 Games will celebrate Russia, the world's best winter sport athletes and the Olympic Movement. Our IOC and Sochi 2014 hosts have been warm and gracious hosts, and we thank them for giving us an unfettered view into their project over the past week."

The aim of the debrief is not to provide a standard template for each future host to follow. Rather, it is intended to encourage future hosts to build on the successes of their predecessors while staying true to their own cultures and identities. It does not seek to impose solutions on other Games, but rather to show options and possibilities that up-coming organisers can analyse to see if they fit into their own unique context.

Watch the video of the press conference on the official website of Sochi 2014

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Vancouver Debrief Comes To An End

6/10/2010 11:17:00 AM

The event was opened by IOC President Jacques Rogge, with the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Kozak and Alexandr Zhukov; Coordination Commission Chairmen René Fasel and Jean-Claude Killy; Organising Committee executives John Furlong and Dmitry Chernyshenko; and athletes Alexander Popov and Ivan Skobrev also addressing the assembled audience. In addition, a number of Russian Government Deputy Ministers participated in the debrief, showing the importance that the host nation is placing in the transfer of knowledge process put in place by the IOC.

Spirit of Team Work

Speaking at the close of the event, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli said he was impressed with both the quality of the discussions that took place and the spirit of teamwork in which they were delivered.“This is the sixth debrief we have held, and you can really see the positive evolution of the programme over the years,” Felli said. “I was particularly impressed with the openness of the Vancouver organisers and their willingness to share everything with their successors. Sochi has already been able to glean a lot of information from our transfer of knowledge programmes, but the debrief will no doubt have helped to cement the lessons that they learnt while observing the Vancouver Games, and will inspire them to strive for and achieve the very best in four years’ time.”

Vast Array of Olympic Knowledge

The IOC debrief is part of a broader transfer-of-knowledge programme initiated by the IOC at the time of the Sydney Games and which is today called Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM). The programme gives future Games hosts access to a vast array of Olympic knowledge built up from previous organisers’ experience, and provides them with the opportunity to participate in observation and secondee programmes. Representatives of Sochi 2014, London 2012, Rio 2016 and the three applicant cities for 2018 (Munich, Annecy and PyeongChang), took part in the four days of workshops and seminars in the Black Sea resort, which provided a forum for all parties to hold constructive discussions and exchange information that will help them prepare for future Olympic Games.

Five Themes

The 32 debrief sessions revolved around five general themes — Inspire & Engage, Team-Up & Test, Embrace & Achieve, Experience & Learn and Innovate & Promote — and permitted frank, open, and detailed discussions on all the different services offered to Olympic stakeholders, including athletes, spectators, partners and the media. However, the aim of the debrief is not to provide a standard template for each future host to follow. Rather, it is intended to encourage future hosts to build on the successes of their predecessors while staying true to their own cultures and identities. It does not seek to impose solutions on other Games, but rather to show options and possibilities that up-coming organisers can analyse to see if they fit into their own unique context.

OGKM

The Vancouver 2010 debrief is a key part of a much larger transfer of knowledge programme run by the IOC called Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM). Set up during the preparations for the Sydney Games in 2000, OGKM is an integrated platform of services and documentation which assists Games organisers in their preparations; allows them to evaluate their progress and success; and helps to define the future of the Games. The OGKM programme includes a number of different tools and services that organisers can draw upon, and these include a Games observer programme, expert workshops, technical manuals, a Games evaluation process, an extranet and a secondee programme. OGKM aims to help bid cities and Organising Committees develop their own vision and understand how a host city and its citizens can benefit from the long-lasting impact of the Games, while managing the opportunities and risks that such an event produces.

Watch the video of the press conference on the official website of Sochi 2014

Vancouver 2010 Debrief Begins

6/7/2010 1:35:00 PM

The official International Olympic Committee (IOC) debrief of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games got underway today in Krasnaya Polyana, the area where the mountain events of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be held. The debrief was opened by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who spoke of the importance of the debrief for ensuring that future host cities are able to benefit from the knowledge of those that have gone before them.

The attendees at the opening session also heard from IOC Coordination Commission Chairmen René Fasel and Jean-Claude Killy, as well as the IOC’s Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Gilbert Felli, and Organising Committee Chairmen John Furlong (Vancouver 2010) and Dmitry Chernychenko (Sochi 2014). The opening session also included thoughts from Olympic athlete Ivan Skobrev, who was interviewed by former Olympic athlete and IOC member Alexander Popov. Other key speakers during the day included the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak and Alexandr Zhukov; the Governor of Krasnodar, Alexander Tkachev; and the Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov.

Making the Games Better

The objective of the IOC Vancouver 2010 debrief is to allow future organisers to learn directly from those that have just put on a Games. This transfer of knowledge, which is invaluable given the unique and complex nature of an Olympic Games, is an opportunity for the up-coming hosts to ask in-depth questions in a relaxed atmosphere and thus maximise the amount that they can learn. The event is also held in the next host city of the equivalent Games (summer to summer or winter to winter), so that the greatest possible number of people can take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions and learn. For example, during the Vancouver 2010 debrief this week, Sochi 2014 will have around 200 people present. Generally speaking, the debrief allows organsiers to pick the brains of those with the latest experience, so that they can, in turn, make the plans for their own Games even better.

Context

The IOC Games debriefs are a fantastic way for host cities to learn and improve their own projects, but it is important to note that future organisers are not expected to take what they find out and implement exactly what was done in the previous Games. They must also analyse what they learn and decide whether or not it fits with their own project’s goals and vision. In addition, they need to look at the cultural context of their Games and see if what worked well in another country would work in their own, or if they need to adapt it somehow in order for it to be advantageous to their operations. During the event this week, attendees will have the chance to understand how Vancouver 2010 approached areas as varied as athlete services and accreditation, and they will then need to go away and see what they can use in their own Games context and what is not appropriate for them to take on board.

OGKM

The Vancouver 2010 debrief is a key part of a much larger transfer of knowledge programme run by the IOC, called Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM). Set up during the preparations for the Sydney Games in 2000, OGKM is an integrated platform of services and documentation which assists Games organisers in their preparations; lets them evaluate their progress and success; and helps to define the future of the Games. The OGKM programme includes a number of different tools and services that organisers can draw upon, and these include a Games observer programme, expert workshops, technical manuals, a Games evaluation process, an extranet and a secondee programme. OGKM aims to help bid cities and Organising Committees develop their own vision and understand how a host city and its citizens can benefit from the long-lasting impact of the Games, while managing the opportunities and risks that such an event produces.

Vancouver 2010: The First Social Media Games

3/22/2010 4:00:00 PM

How can the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reach out and connect with Olympic fans from around the world? By using popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. During the Olympic Games in Vancouver in February, millions lived, and contributed to, the passion of the Games via the IOC’s social media platforms.

The IOC’s Facebook page has attracted over 1.5 million fans and generated nearly 200 million impressions since its launch in January. Providing behind-the-scenes updates from athletes and teams - Lindsey Vonn, Shawn White and Justin Kripps are just some of the athletes featured – the Facebook page also enables fans to share their Olympic experiences. The Olympic photo contest saw almost 4,000 photos submitted by fans, ranging from superb sports competition imagery to more personal Olympic experience shots like the family pet dog wearing the Vancouver red mittens. Fans were given the opportunity to win free tickets to see Olympic events, cheer for their favourite athletes or even “play” Olympic sports. The Official Vancouver 2010 Video Game received over five million plays. Platforms such as Facebook are also proving to be effective ways to reach out to younger audiences that are perhaps more difficult to reach through traditional media - over 60% of the Facebook fans are under the age of 24.

The lead-up to the Games in Vancouver also saw the IOC present on YouTube, with its interactive The Best of Us challenge. This allowed members of the general public to compete against Olympic athletes in a series of fun and playful challenges. Olympic athletes such as Michael Phelps, Lindsey Vonn and Jenny Owens created unique challenges which attracted over three million views. Prizes were awarded - including a trip to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games for the best challenges that were posted. These can be seen on youtube.com/thebestofuschallenge.

Flickr is also being used to share the strong moments of the Games through Olympic imagery. More than 11,000 Olympic photos, taken by over 600 photographers, are shared with the general public on this image hosting website. And for those in need of constant Olympic updates of 140 characters or less, twitter.com/olympics is available. During the Vancouver Games, the IOC following on Twitter doubled to over 12,000.

A Legacy For The Long Term

3/5/2010 12:09:00 PM

As the world turns its attention to the forthcoming Olympic Games of London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016, Vancouver can look back proudly on what it achieved during 16 days of “excellent and very friendly” competition. However, the Vancouver 2010 story has not finished with the extinguishing of the Olympic flame. The work carried out by the organisers of these Games over the last seven years will leave a long-lasting legacy to the city, region and country.

Sporting Legacy

The Vancouver Games have left a long-term legacy to Canadian sport, with a number of new or renovated venues now available for use by grass roots and elite athletes. These venues will allow a number of winter sports to develop even further in this region of North America. There were also a number of initiatives set up during the preparations, such as the Four Nations Snowboard Team and the 2010 Legacies Now organisation, which will provide opportunities for people to get involved in sport in a number of different ways. These initiatives will undoubtedly provide numerous avenues for sport to be used as a vehicle for social change in the future.

Human Legacy

The 2010 Olympic Games have also created a great legacy on the human front. They did not only bring a country and its people closer together, with Canadians from coast to coast to coast celebrating the Games together, but they also directly impacted on the lives and futures of people from the Games region. Disadvantaged young people, indigenous people, single mothers and new immigrants all received carpentry training and work experience at the Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop. People from at-risk populations received training, work experience and job placements through the company that was contracted to supply the 1,700 victory bouquets for the athletes. So, on both the micro and macro levels, these Games have positively impacted Canada’s human legacy.

Infrastructure Legacy

Using the Games as a catalyst, Vancouver 2010 has been able to improve its already advanced infrastructure. Improvements to the famous Sea-to-Sky highway have made it not only safer, but also quicker to go from Vancouver to Whistler. The Canada line has allowed Vancouver’s International airport to be connected to the downtown areas, and has seen remarkable success since it opened, particularly during the Games. The Vancouver Olympic Village has seen the redevelopment of a previously downtrodden area, and the Whistler Village is providing much-needed housing to the mountain community, as well as a number of social housing units for communities around British Columbia. This is just a small part of the improvements that the Games have helped to turn into reality in this region of Western Canada.

Vancouver ready for the Paralympic Games

3/3/2010 12:30:00 PM

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games have ended, but Vancouver continues to welcome the world, and is getting ready for the Paralympic Games, which will kick off with an Opening Ceremony on 12 March 2010. From 13 to 21 March 2010, spectators will be able to watch exciting Paralympic competitions in Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling, which will be taking place in Vancouver and in Whistler, at the same venues which were used just a few days earlier for the Olympic Games.

Biggest coverage ever

ParalympicSport.TV, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)’s official internet channel, will deliver the most comprehensive coverage of Paralympic Winter Games ever, with a live feed and videos on demand. Viewers from all over the world can tune in at www.ParalympicSport.TV. You can also stay in touch with the Vancouver Paralympic Games via Facebook
at www.facebook.com/ParalympicSport.TV and YouTube at www.youtube.com/paralympicsporttv.

Close IOC-IPC cooperation

The Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is responsible for delivering both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games, which is the result of the close partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) since 2001. The Paralympic Games always take place shortly after the Olympic Games, using the same sports venues and facilities. Furthermore, the IPC has a representative on the IOC Athletes’ Commission as well as on the IOC’s Evaluation and Coordination commissions for the Games. The IPC President, Sir Philip Craven, is also an IOC member.

Learn more about the Paralympic Games in Vancouver

Learn more about the International Paralympic Committee